Peter Greste among 20 journalists to be tried in Egypt

Updated
January 30, 2014 13:28:00

Overnight Egyptian authorities announced that Australian Peter Greste is among 20 journalists to be tried for aiding a terrorist organisation and spreading false news. But Peter Greste's parents say they're not convinced that their son has been charged and are urging Egyptian police to release him. Mr Greste's employer Al-Jazeera says it is now trying to establish what legal options are open to him, but overnight an appeal against his detention was refused.

ELEANOR HALL: The parents of the Australian journalist detained in Egypt for a month say they're not convinced that their son has been charged and are urging Egyptian police to release him.

Egyptian authorities announced overnight that Peter Greste is among 20 journalists to be tried for aiding a terrorist organisation and spreading false news.

Mr Greste's employer Al Jazeera says it is now trying to establish what legal options are open to him, but overnight an appeal against his detention was refused, as Donna Field reports.

DONNA FIELD: After a month being held in solitary confinement, Peter Greste went to court overnight to appeal against his detention.

It was refused. Instead the Egyptian prosecutor's office progressed its case against him and his colleagues.

It says the foreign correspondent is accused of helping to promote false news benefitting a terrorist group - namely the Muslim Brotherhood.

From their home in Brisbane his father, Juris Greste, has expressed his concern at the development.

JURIS GRESTE: While I've read the report of allegations of, in inverted commas, "airing false news" there are still no specific charges. One would reasonably expect then that if this is the actual charge, rather than any allegation, there would be more detail of what particular aspects of the wrongdoing is false.

DONNA FIELD: Prosecutors in Cairo say the award-winning Greste is among 20 journalists to face trial on terrorism charges.

Four foreign reporters, including Greste, are accused of helping 16 Egyptians who, authorities say, are members of a terrorist organisation.

The Egyptians face several allegations including harming national unity and social peace, while the foreigners are accused of collaborating with them and broadcasting false information and rumours.

Heather Allen is head of newsgathering for Al Jazeera English

HEATHER ALLEN: This is Egypt. This isn't a small, insignificant country. This is a big country that's very important to the Middle East and no matter what happens they're going to have to come into the international arena and freedom of the press, which they tout, and an independent judiciary, which they tout, we hope that that's the case. We hope that Egypt does have those things.

DONNA FIELD: The case has gained the attention of the United States' government.

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki.

JEN PSAKI: Let me be clear that the United States places great value on a free press. We are alarmed by reports today of additional journalists facing charges including the Al Jazeera journalist. Any journalist, regardless of affiliation, must not be targets of violence, intimidation or politicised legal action. They must be protected and permitted to freely do their jobs in Egypt.

We would remind the Egyptian government publicly and privately that freedom of the press is a cornerstone of democracy and we urge the interim government to implement its commitment to this freedom.

We strongly urge the government to reconsider detaining and trying these journalists and reiterate that they must be afforded all accordance of the due process under the rule of law.

DONNA FIELD: Peter Greste's parents say they've been told by the Department of Foreign Affairs that he's holding up well, but the situation is taking a toll.

JURIS GRESTE: Both Lois and I have had the most harrowing, the most stressful and difficult four weeks of our lives.

DONNA FIELD: And Juris Greste has reiterated that his son was simply doing his job as a journalist.

JURIS GRESTE: This is most undeserved, outrageous and shameful. It's unbecoming of a great nation like Egypt. It is unbecoming of any civil society to behave like this. It is demeaning of any community which even pretends to be democratic and fair.